Getting out of your last non-conference game with a win is one thing. Coming out with some injuries is always tough. That's what Penn State will have to contend with ahead of their first Big Ten game of the Matt Campbell era after several key players went down in Week 3 against Buffalo. One in particular could have an important effect on the team, but luckily not for very long.
Andrew Rappleyea has become a fundamental part of the Penn State offense. In a tight end room loaded with talent, he is the player with the most experience in Happy Valley. However, despite the fact that he caught a touchdown pass in Week 3, he did end up picking up a slight injury in the first half after an 8-yard catch. He immediately received medical attention and went
to the locker room early.
Campbell acknowledged that Penn State fans will have nothing to fear when it comes to Rappleyea, saying that it was a minor injury.
"Both those guys just kind of dinged up," Campbell said of both Rappleyea and center Brock Riker, who also left the game early, only after two offensive series. For the Nittany Lions, they are fortunate to dodge a bullet for two key players of their offense, but especially with Rappleyea.
While the tight end room should have been fine without Rappleyea, he adds another dimension to the offense entirely when he's on the field. Not only does he do the dirty work blocking and sealing the edge in the run game, but he also provides versatility in Penn State's heavy sets. You could also say that he provides the most threat of any tight end in the room in the red zone as evidenced by his touchdown yesterday.
For now, Penn State fans can rest assured that for the most part, Penn State escaped the early portion of their schedule relatively unscathed. But they don't want to get accustomed to waiting for updates week in and week out either.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State TE receives positive injury update
